Whirlpool Dishwasher Recall List — What CPSC Records Show

Searching for a Whirlpool dishwasher recall usually returns long lists of model numbers, and most of those lists are older, copied or wrong. The reliable source is the federal recall record itself. This guide sets out what the Consumer Product Safety Commission database actually holds for Whirlpool dishwashers, how to check your own machine against it, and what to do on a match. Every recall fact below was read from cpsc.gov records, not from this site's other pages.

CPSC notice	What was covered	Hazard	Remedy stated
05-123, February 2005	About 162,000 Whirlpool and Kenmore under-the-counter plastic tall tub dishwashers, sold June 2004 to January 2005	Wash motor wiring defect that could overheat and catch fire	Stop using, switch off the power, free in-home repair
96-133, May 1996	About 500,000 Whirlpool and Kenmore dishwashers, sold June 1991 to October 1992	Door latch wiring that may overheat and catch fire	Stop using, leave the door unlatched, free service
89-063, July 1989	Certain Whirlpool below-counter models sold after February 1986, in three states	Pushbutton switch that may short and cause a fire	Free switch replacement, do not use until fitted

Which Whirlpool Dishwashers Have Been Recalled?

The CPSC records we found list three notices from Whirlpool that are about dishwashers in the strict sense, from 1989, 1996 and 2005, plus a 1988 notice that only corrected model numbers in the earlier campaign. The newest dishwashers named in any of them were sold in early 2005, so a dishwasher bought after that date does not appear in these notices. That is a statement about these records, not about the future, and the database is where to look for anything newer.

• 2005 notice, wash motor — Whirlpool-brand models with prefixes DU1, DUL, GU1, GU2 and GU6, and Kenmore models starting 665.143, 665.160, 665.163, 665.170 and 665.173, within stated serial ranges. The notice adds that not every unit in the range is included.
• 1996 notice, door latch — Whirlpool models starting DU8, DP8, DU9 and GDP, and Kenmore models starting 665, within stated serial ranges.
• 1989 notice, pushbutton switch — a regional retrofit for certain below-counter models in Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana, issued as a second notice after a poor response to the first.

Both the 2005 and 1996 notices also cover Kenmore-branded dishwashers made by Whirlpool, and in both the Kenmore model numbers begin with 665. A Kenmore dishwasher can therefore match a Whirlpool notice, and the plate is the only way to tell. A machine with no readable plate cannot be matched at all, which is itself a reason to have it inspected.

How Do You Check Your Dishwasher Against a Recall?

Read the model and serial number from the plate, then check both against the CPSC database and the manufacturer's own recall lookup. A model number alone is not enough, because the notices above are limited to serial ranges and, in 2005, say outright that not every dishwasher in the range is included.

1. Open the door fully — the 1996 notice puts the plate on the right front edge of the tub inside the door, and the 2005 notice puts it on a tag near the left side of the door opening.
2. Photograph the plate — letters, digits and every trailing character, because ones and sevens are easy to misread under a flashlight.
3. Search both sources — the CPSC recall database and the manufacturer's recall lookup are updated separately.
4. Match model and serial together — a model match without a serial match does not mean your unit is affected.
5. Register the machine — registration is how a future campaign reaches you.

Keep the photo with your purchase receipt so you never have to crouch at the door again. Our Whirlpool appliance recall check guide walks through the same method for every appliance, and the washer recall check covers the machine next to it.

The Hazards Behind Each Notice

The incident counts in the notices are small, which is normal for a recall: it is issued on the risk of overheating and fire, not on a large number of events. The numbers below are as the notices state them.

• 2005 — three reports of overheated wash motors, with no reports of injury or property damage.
• 1996 — 20 claims of property damage, and no injuries reported to that date.
• 1989 — 45 fires reported to Whirlpool, nine of which spread outside the appliance.

A low count is not a reason to ignore a match. All three notices describe a defect that could start a fire, and all three ask owners to stop using the machine until it is serviced.

What Should You Do If Your Model Matches?

Stop using it and follow the remedy in the notice, which in the 2005 and 1996 cases was a free repair arranged through the manufacturer. The 2005 notice also told owners to disconnect the electric supply at the fuse or breaker and to keep other household members from using the machine, and it asked them not to return the dishwasher to the store. The 1996 notice told owners to leave the door unlatched until service was complete.

• Switch off the breaker — the 2005 notice names this as the way to disconnect a recalled unit.
• Do not repair it yourself — a recall remedy is arranged by the manufacturer, and your own work can complicate it.
• Do not let a third party repair it first — that includes us; contact the manufacturer through the route in the notice.
• Keep the paperwork — keep it once the remedy is complete.

Is a Dishwasher Fault the Same as a Recall?

No. A recall applies to a specific production run with a specific defect, while a fault is a worn part on one machine. A dishwasher showing F7E1, a heating element fault, has a part that needs service, and the code page says to stop using it if you smell burning. That is a repair, not a recall, and it goes through a different channel.

Most risks in dishwashers are not recalls at all. A leaking supply hose, a damaged power cord, a cracked door seal or a burning smell during a cycle are all reasons to stop the machine and have it looked at, whether or not any notice exists. Our Whirlpool dishwasher safety guide covers these in more detail.

When the Dishwasher Is Simply Old

A dishwasher sold in 2005 is now more than twenty years old, which is well beyond the usual life of the machine. An old dishwasher with no recall can still carry age-related risk, and our is it worth repairing a Whirlpool dishwasher guide gives the lifespan as 9 to 12 years. If you cannot find a model plate at all, or the machine is well beyond that, the safest course is a professional inspection before the next cycle.

The dishwasher repair page lists what a visit covers. Book a visit or send us the model plate photo and we can tell you what to check next. Recall remedies themselves come from the manufacturer, not from us.